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	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Virginia Tech (34-16)	0	0	0	1	1	1	2	5	8	0
Liberty (22-20)	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	9	1
Liberty Softball Fld - 104 Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech softball team traveled to Lynchburg, Va., Wednesday afternoon for a doubleheader at Liberty University . The Hokies won the first game, 5-3, and were leading 5-0 in the second game, when it was halted due to wet field conditions following a rain delay. The game will be completed a week from today, May 4, at Liberty, tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m.

Game 1: Virginia Tech 5, Liberty 3

After a 1-2-3 top of the first, Katie Zavodny got the Flames off to a good start, beating out an infield single to second base. She stole second and advanced to third on a ground out, but Hokie starter Kenzie Roark stranded her before she could score, getting Ashley Bensinger to ground out to short for the final out.

Flames hurler Katrina Johnson struck out the first two batters in the top of the second, before the game was suspended for 50 minutes due to a lightning delay. Right after the completion of the delay, Richelle McGarva became Tech’s first baserunner, drawing a two-out walk but after stealing second, she was called out for runner’s interference on the next play to end the inning.

Kristina Cruz led off the top of the third with the Hokies’ first hit of the game, drilling a single through the right side. Pinch runner Sarah Ashby stole second, but was also stranded. Liberty had a pair of singles in the bottom half of the frame, but Roark prevented either from scoring, and at the end of the third, the game was still scoreless.

The Hokies finally got on the board in the top of the fourth, as Courtney Liddle led off with a four-pitch walk. She got to second on a muffed throw by the second baseman, and eventually came around to score an unearned run off the bat of Kat Banks, who grounded into a fielder’s choice on a diving play by shortstop Sammi Shivock.

Laura Wolff pushed the Hokies further ahead in the top of the fifth, beating out an infield single and then scoring from third on a wild pitch to give Tech a 2-0 lead.

Betty Rose gave the Hokies an insurance run to lead off the top of the sixth, smashing her team-leading 10^th home run over the wall in right center. It is just the seventh time in school history that a Hokie has hit double-digit home runs in one season. Teammate Courtney Liddle is the only other active player to do so, hitting 11 last season.

The Flames put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on three hits and chasing Roark from the circle. Meredith Crisante started it off with a single up the middle. Roark walked Kaylee West and hit Shivock to load the bases. Back-to-back singles to left by Amber DePasquale and Jill Stephens tied the game, before Jasmin Harrell struck out Keely McMillon, the first batter she faced, to end the inning.

The Hokies bounced right back in the top of the seventh, as Bkaye Smith led off with a single to left. Ashton Ward followed with a single off the pitcher’s glove, which rolled into shallow left, allowing Smith to advance to third. Ward stole second, and Courtney LIddle then put the Hokies back on top, 5-3, with a two-run single up the middle. Jasmin Harrell shut out the Flames in the bottom half of the frame to claim her 16^th victory of the season, 5-3.

Kenzie Roark pitched the first 5.2 innings for the Hokies, allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk with no strikeouts. Harrell (16-8) closed out the game, allowing just a walk while striking out two in 1.1 innings. Katrina Johnson (11-7) went the distance for the Flames, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Ashton Ward was the only Hokie with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run. Liddle went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and two RBI, and Betty Rose hit her 10^th home run of the season. Katie Zavodny and Meredith Crisante each had two hits for the Flames.

Game 2: Virginia Tech 5, Liberty 0, Top of the 4th

The Hokies didn’t waste any time in game two as the first five batters all reached base and scored. Ward and Wolff led off with back-to-back singles. Liddle walked to load the bases, then Kristen Froehlich walked in the first run. Alyssa DiMartino relieved Tiffani Smith in the circle, but Betty Rose then smashed her second homer of the day, her first career grand slam, to give the Hokies a quick 5-0 advantage. Rose is now tied for third all-time in season home runs (11), and only Megan Evans has hit more (16, 2005; 14, 2004). But because of the halted game, Rose's home run will not become official until the game is completed next week. If it is not finished, none of the stats from the game will count, including Rose's grand slam.

Richelle McGarva led off the top of the fourth with a single to left field. The game was then halted due to a lightning delay. Following a huge downpour in which Liberty officials elected to not tarp the field, the game was postponed. It will be completed at Liberty next Wednesday, May 4, picking up where it was halted. Tech will host Maryland this weekend at Tech Softball Park, Saturday at noon in a doubleheader and Sunday at 1 p.m.

For updates on Virginia Tech softball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Softball).